Incineration apparatus

ABSTRACT

AN INCINERATION APPARATUS FOR BURNING SMOKE OR GASES HAVING UNBURNED COMPONENTS THEREIN COMPRISES A GENERALLY UPWARDLY EXTENDING FLUE MEMBER HAVING AN ENTRANCE PORTION POSITIONED ADJACENT A STRUCTURE EMITTING SMOKE OR GASES TO THEREBY RECEIVE AND DIRECT THE SMOKE OR GASES THROUGH A COMBUSTION CHAMBER HAVING A NECK PORTION POSITIONED ABOVE AN UPPER END OF THE FLUE MEMBER. THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER IS SHAPED TO DIRECT FLAMES INTO THE   GASES WITHIN THE NECK PORTION TO THEREBY BURN THE UNBURNED COMPONENTS THEREIN.

INC INERATION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 197D 2 Smets-Sheet l If 'L ENTOR.

Danie! [-3. Heu/Hf BY ATTOR NEYS Aug. 8, 1972 D. e. HEwITT 3.532.599,

INCINERATION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 game! B. www m4n-MW AT TOR NE. YS

United States Patent O 3,682,599 INCINERATION APPARATUS Daniel B. Hewitt, 1119 N. Lynn,

Independence, Mo. 64050 Filed Aug. 20, 1970, Ser. No. 65,482 Int. Cl. F23g 7/06 ILS. Cl. 23-277 C 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to an incineration apparatus for disposal of smoke, fumes and such air pollutants and more particularly to an incineration apparatus for the secondary combustion of smoke and gases to remove pollutants and contaminants normally found in flue gases.

As the nations population has tended increasingly to concentrate in large centers of business and industrial activity, smog, industrial haze and other evidences of air pollution have resulted creating dangers to health of the inhabitants. Accordingly, many governmental units have established standards for the control of discharge of smoke or gases having unburned components therein and for control of various obnoxious fumes or other air pollutants. It is anticipated that the standards will become exceedingly strict to protect the health of the people and the environment, whereby it will become necessary to eliminate or substantially reduce the presence of unburned components in smoke or ue gases exhausted into the atmosphere.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide an incinerataion apparatus for substantially completely burning unburned components in ue gases to be discharged into the atmosphere to thereby substantially reduce air pollution; to provide such an incineration apparatus adapted to direct a concentrated high temperature flame into a mixture of air and smoke or ue gases having unburned components therein to completely burn same; to provide such an incineration apparatus which is adapted to eliminate or substantially reduce smoke, soot, cinders, fly ash, dust, obnoxious odors, obnoxious gases, fumes and the like present in exhaust gases discharged from combustion devices; to provide such an incineration apparatus having a generally oval or pear-shaped combustion chamber adapted to concentrate ames and di rect same into ilue gases or smoke discharges from cornbustion devices; to provide such an incineration apparatus having an adjustable flue member and means operative to sense the quantity of unburned components in the smoke or gases and to adjust the fuel input and position the ue member whereby the duration of exposure of the smoke and gases to the flames may be varied in accordance with the quantity and type of pollutants to be burned; and to provide such an incineraation apparatus which iS safe and elTicient in operation, economical to manufacture and operate, sturdy and durable in construction, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken ICC in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a smoke incineration apparatus embodying features of the present invention, with portions broken away to better illustrate the component parts.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the incineration apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a control platform surrounding a smoke emitting structure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of means to adjust a ilue member vertically to vary the duration of exposure of the smoke and gases to the llames within the incineration apparatus.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates an incineration apparatus for disposing of air pollutants such as by burning smoke, ilue gases, and fumes having unburned components therein. The incineration apparatus 1 is positioned in spaced relation with a smoke or flue gas emitting structure, such as a chimney or smoke stack 2 and in its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to a process of secondary combustion of fumes, smoke, and flue gases to eect removal of smoke and other combustion products normally found in llue gases, such as lly ash, unburned coal particles, various impurities and sulphur dioxide and the like. The ilue gases and unburned components or other pollutants are collected in an entrance portion 3 of a ue member 4. The ue member 4 concentrates the flue gases and discharges same into an upper portion of a combustion chamber 5 where the smoke and flue gases are subjected to a concentrated high temperature llame from the combustion chamber 5 to thereby effect combustion of pollutants as by secondary combustion of unburned components in the smoke or flue gases in the presence of combustion air.

Secondary combustion is effected by injecting a suitable fuel preferably in vapor form, such as a mixture of air and fuel preferably having sufficient air to support primary combustion of a combustible hydrocarbon for example natural ,gas, petroleum products, or the like. The fuel within the combustion chamber 5 is suitably ignited and the combustion chamber 5 is shaped to direct and concentrate flames produced therein in a neck portion 6 of the combustion chamber 5 to thereby effect a high heat and a prolonged, thorough, and intimate contact between the concentrated llame and unburned particles and contaminants with the smoke and gases. The neck portion 6 is positioned above an upper end 7 of the Hue member 4 whereby the flame zone within the neck portion 6 completely occupies the exit flow path of the ue gases from the iiue member 4 to thereby effectively inhibit the emission of smoke, fumes, or other smog producing contaminants from the incineration apparatus l.

In the illustrated structure, the combustion chamber 5 has an upwardly directed tubular passage 8 centered therein and the tubular passage 8 is defined by wall means spaced outwardly from the flue member 4 to provide a passage for combustion air between the line member 4 and passage 8 for movement into the neck portion 6. The tubular passage 8 has an upper end 9 spaced below an upper end 10 of the neck portion 6 to thereby assure a thorough and intimate contact between the llames produced within the combustion chamber 5 and the gases leaving the upper end 7 of the Hue member 4.

The combustion chamber 5 has a bottom wall 11 closing a lower end thereof and a side wall 12 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 11 and defining an enlarged lower portion 14 where ignition of fuel injected into the combustion chamber 5 is effected by suitable spark producing devices, such as spark plugs 15. The side wall 12 tapers upwardly and inwardly from the enlarged lower portion 14 to thereby define an inwardly tapering upper portion 16 terminating at the neck portion 6 which is generally upwardly directed whereby the combustion chamber is adapted to upwardly direct the flames produced therein and concentrate same within the neck portion 6, more particularly the space between the upper ends 7 and 9 of the flue member 4 and tubular passages 8 respectively and the upper end of the neck portion 6. The upper end 10 of the neck portion 6 has an aperture 17 for escape of the products after the secondary combustion of the gases and particles therein.

It is desirable that the combustion air flowing upwardly between the flue member 4 and the tubular passage 8 be uniformly mixed with the gases discharged from the flue member 4, therefore, the flue member 4 and the tubular passage 8 are each cylindrical members and the flue member 4 is coaxial within the tubular passage 8 of the combustion chamber 5. It is also desirable that the flames in the neck portion 6 be uniformly directed into the smoke and line gases above the upper ends 7 and 9 of the flue member 4 and tubular passage 8 respectively, therefore, the neck portion 6 is a generally inverted frusto-conical structure and is coaxial with the tubular passage 8 and the flue member 4.

It is preferred to collect all the unburned components in the smoke or gases flowing from the smoke stack 2, therefore, the entrance portion 3 of the flue member 4 has a side wall 18 depending from the ue member 4 to dene an entrance chamber spaced from the ue gas or smoke emitting structure 2. A lower edge 19 of the side Wall 18 is positioned below an upper end 20 of the smoke stack 2. The entrance portion 3 of the flue member 4 is preferably coaxial with the smoke stack 2 and the side wall 18 is preferably outwardly spaced from the smoke stack 2 thereby permitting combustion air to move upwardly between the side wall 18 and the smoke stack 2 and mix with the smoke or fumes discharged from the smoke stack 2.

The incineration apparatus 1 may be suitably supported on the smoke stack 2 adjacent the upper end 20 thereof or a control platform 21 preferably surrounding the smoke stack 2 adjacent the upper end 20 thereof. 'I'he platform 21 may be suitably supported as on columns 22. In the illustrated structure, the combustion chamber 5 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced fins or wings 23 extending radially outwardly from the side wall 12 defining the enlarged lower portion 14 of the combustion chamber 5. The fins or wings 23 are suitably supported on the control platform 21.

A suitable fuel reservoir or tank 24 is supported on the control platform 21 and a plurality of fuel injection pumps 25 are operatively connected to the fuel tank or reservoir 24 and to a plurality of burner members 26 mounted in the side wall 12 of the enlarged lower portion 14 of the combustion chamber 5. T'he burner members 26 are each adapted to direct an atomized spray of fuel and air into the lower portion 14 of the combustion chamber 5.

It is necessary to provide high temperatures to completely burn the contaminants and pollutants, such as a flame having a temperature in the range of 1500 F. to 2000 F., therefore, it is necessary to provide a large quantity of combustion air to support secondary combustion and to increase the burning effect of the llame produced at each of the burner members 26.

In the illustrated structure, an air compressor 27 is mounted on the control platform and is operative to deliver air under pressure to an air duct 28 surrounding the enlarged lower portion 14 of the combustion chamber 5 and mounted on the side wall 12 defining same. 'Ihe side wall 12 has a plurality of apertures 29 surrounding each burner member 26 whereby the air in the duct 28 liows into the combustion chamber 5 and is burned by the 4 flame at each burner member 26 thereby increasing the temperature of the flame which draws more air from the duct 28 to continue the increase of the llame temperature to the desired temperature.

Fuel is delivered to the burner members 26 in response to operation of a suitable motor 30 which is operatively connected to a cam shaft 31 having a plurality of suitable cams thereon for activating the injection pumps 25 in a desired sequence. The cam shaft 31 also has a portion having a plurality of additional cams thereon to engage brushes which complete electrical circuits to the spark plugs 15. The burner members 26 and the spark plugs 1S are arranged in circumferentially spaced pairs and the spark plug energizing cams on the cam shaft 31 are positioned to effect tiring of the spark plugs 15 in sequence after the initial flow of fuel into the respective burner members 26. After the burner members 26 are ignited, it is not necessary that the spark plugs 15 continue to operate, therefore, the portion of the cam shaft 31 having the brush engaging cams thereon may be disengaged by suitable clutch means.

It is desirable to provide means to adjust the vertical position of the flue member 4 and adjust the quantity of fuel to be supplied to the burner members 26 and adjust the volume and pressure of the air supplied to the air duct 28 in accordance with the quantity and nature of pollutants in the smoke and gases to thereby effect complete combustion of the pollutants whereby the resulting product is proper to enter the atmosphere. Suitable sensing elements 32 are mounted on the entrance portion 3 of the flue member 4 and are operatively connected to the motor 30, compressor 27, and to a motor 33 operative to raise and lower the llue member 4 to vary the duration of exposure of the smoke or gases to the llames within the neck portion 6.

ln the illustrated structure, a plurality of circumferentially spaced internally threaded sleeve members 34 are mounted on an exterior surface of the side wall 18 of the entrance portion 3 of the tiue member 4. A respective threaded shaft 35 is received within each of the sleeve members 34 and the threaded shafts 35 are operatively connected to the positioning motor 33 whereby the upper end 7 of the flue member 4 may be moved vertically relative to the upper end 10 of the neck portion 6.

As the upper end 7 of the flue member 4 is moved above the upper end 9 of the tubular passage 8, the smoke and gases within the due member 4, will be protected from the llames in the neck portion 6. When maximum burning of the unburned components in the smoke or gases is desired, the upper end 7 of the flue member 4 is positioned even with or below the upper end 9 of the tubular passage 8.

In operation, upward movement of the smoke, flue gases, or fumes into the entrance portion 3 of the ue member 4 draws combustion air upwardly into the entrance portion 3 by moving between the side wall 18 and the exterior of the smoke stack 2. Combustion air is also drawn into the neck portion 6 by passing upwardly between the tubular passage 8 and the ue member 4. The combustion air is delivered into the neck portion 6 at the point where maximum burning is desired.

It is to be understood that while l have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A smoke burning apparatus comprising:

(a) a combustion chamber having a bottom wall and a side wall defining an enlarged lower portion and an upper portion tapering upwardly and inwardly and terminating in an upwardly directed tubular neck portion;

(b) a Wall defining a tubular passage extending upwardly from the bottom wall and having an opening in an upper end thereof;

(c) means communicating with said combustion chamber for injecting fuel into the enlarged lower portion of said combustion chamber;

(d) means adjacent said means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber for igniting fuel within said lower portion of said combustion chamber; and

(e) an aperture in the tubular neck portion of said combustion chamber and positioned above the upper end of the tubular passage whereby the upper portion of said combustion chamber and the neck portion cooperate to direct flames into the air and gases to thereby burn the unburned components therein.

2. A smoke burning apparatus as set forth in claim l including:

(a) a tubular flue member within said tubular passage and having a wall defining an entrance in a lower end thereof and an open upper end spaced from the upper end of said tubular passage, the entrance of said tubular ue member being positioned to receive gases having unburned components therein; and

(b) means engaging said flue member and operative to move the upper end thereof relative to the upper end of said tubular passage to thereby vary the burning effect.

3. A smoke burning apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tubular ue member is coaxial with said tubular passage and has an exterior surface spaced inwardly from an interior surface of said tubular passage to dene a space for movement of combustion air between said tubular Hue member and said tubular passage.

4. A smoke burning apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) a plurality of circumferentially spaced burners are mounted in the side wall of the combustion chamber with each adapted to direct an atomized spray of fuel and air into the enlarged lower portion of said combustion chamber;

(b) the side wall of the combustion chamber has an aperture therein for each of said burners with the apertures surrounding the respective burner; and

(c) an air duct is mounted on the side wall of the combustion chamber and surrounds the enlarged lower portion thereof for communicating a source of air under pressure with the apertures surrounding each of the burners.

5. A smoke burning apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber includes:

(a) an air duct mounted on the side wall of said combustion chamber and surrounding the enlarged lower portion thereof;

(b) a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in the side wall of said combustion chamber and cornmunicating with said air duct;

(c) a burner mounted in each of said apertures and adapted to direct an atomized spray of fuel and air into the enlarged lower portion of said combustion chamber;

(d) a source of fue] and pump means operatively connecting same to said burners; and

(e) means communicating with said air duct and operative to deliver air under pressure to said air duct whereby the air in said air duct Hows into said combustion chamber and is burned by the flames at each burner.

6. A smoke burning apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said tubular Hue member is coaxial with said tubular passage and has an exterior surface spaced in, wardly from an interior surface of said tubular passage to dene a space for movement of combustion air between said tubular flue member and said tubular passage;

(b) said ue member has a depending wall to define an entrance chamber with the wall being spaced from a structure emitting fumes having unburned components therein;

(c) the depending wall of said entrance chamber has a lower edge positioned below an upper end of the structure emitting fumes having unburned components therein; and

(d) the depending wall of said entrance is chamber spaced from the structure emitting fumes to permit combustion air to move upwardly between the structure emitting fumes and the depending wall and mix with the fumes to aid combustion thereof.

7. An incineration apparatus comprising:

(a) a generally upwardly extending ue member having an entrance portion positioned to receive gases having unburned components therein, said entrance portion having a depending wall to dene an entrance chamber spaced from a structure emitting fumes having unburned components therein;

(b) a combustion chamber having an upwardly directed tubular passage centered therein and having the flue member extending through the tubular passage, said flue member being spaced inwardly from the tubular passage to provide a passage for combustion air therebetween, said combustion chamber having a side wall defining an enlarged lower portion and an upper portion tapering inwardly from the enlarged lower portion to define a tubular upper neck portion terminating in an aperture above said tubular passage and an upper end of said ue member whereby said combustion chamber is a generally ovalshaped structure;

(c) burner means for directing fuel into and effecting burning of fuel within the enlarged lower portion of said combustion chamber whereby ames therein are directed upwardly into the air and fumes to thereby burn the unburned components therein; and

(d) means engaging said flue member and operative to move an upper end thereof relative to the upper end of said tubular passage to thereby vary the duration of exposure of the fumes to the ames.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,656,008 10/1953 Engel 23--277 C 3,490,466 l/l97'0 Warnock 23-277 C 2,879,862 3/1959 Burden, Jr. 23--277 C JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

23-2 F: IML-8 A: 43h-202, 285 

